2 firefighters dead in Boston brownstone fire

Firefighters and emergency medical personnel rush a firefighter from the scene of a multi-alarm fire at a four-story brownstone in the Back Bay neighborhood near the Charles River, Wednesday, March 26, 2014, in Boston. Boston EMS spokesman Nick Martin says four people, including at least three firefighters, have been taken to hospitals. (AP Photo/Scott Eisen)

Firefighter look on at the scene of a multi-alarm fire at a four-story brownstone in the Back Bay neighborhood near the Charles River, Wednesday, March 26, 2014, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

BOSTON >> A Boston city councilor says two firefighters have died in a fire that ripped through a brownstone.

The fire started Wednesday afternoon in the four-story building in the densely populated Back Bay neighborhood. Smoke and flames fanned by strong winds poured from the roof and windows for hours.

Councilor Josh Zakim (ZAY’-kuhm) represents the area and confirms the firefighters’ deaths.

Major thoroughfare Storrow Drive was shut down for a time, and people were asked to stay out of the area. Boston EMS says at least 18 people were taken to hospitals.

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There are no reports of brownstone residents missing, and it appears everyone who was inside escaped.

An assistant district attorney is headed to the scene, standard procedure in cases in which there are serious or potentially life-threatening injuries or deaths.

There’s no immediate word on the cause of the fire.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

Smoke and flames poured from the roof and windows of a four-story brownstone on Wednesday as firefighters battled a large fire that injured more than a dozen people and snarled traffic in Boston’s densely populated Back Bay neighborhood.

At least three firefighters were injured, one seriously. Fire department spokesman Steve MacDonald said a roll call was being done to make sure all firefighters were accounted for.

Major thoroughfare Storrow Drive was shut down for a time, and people were being asked to stay out of the area.

EMS spokesman Nick Martin said 17 people were taken to hospitals. MacDonald said there were no reports of residents missing and it appeared everyone who was inside at the time had escaped.

An assistant district attorney was being sent to the scene, standard procedure in cases in which there are serious or potentially life-threatening injuries, said Jake Wark, a spokesman for Suffolk District Attorney Dan Conley. There was no immediate word on the cause of the fire.

Despite strong winds and cold temperatures, people gathered to watch firefighters work from outside the building.

“The smoke was unbelievable,” said Kayla Dasilva, who lives a few blocks away and went with her roommate to see what was happening.